iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour 2015

Volcano Erupts in London
'Something in you wants to blow...' Another hot night at the O2.

'Volcano, you don't wanna, you don't wanna know.
Volcano
Something in you wants to blow
Volcano
You don't wanna, you don't wanna know
You're on a piece of ground above a volcano...'

There's something in the air tonight, and it's not just the spectacular mist swirling up from the Thames to envelope the O2 Arena. Inside, the atmosphere is building powerfully, too. Bono's over-brimming with autumn as he takes the stage: London, he says, looked like a Turner painting today - "incredible painted light". And with that, the band launches into their fifth consecutive London show (first time since the Boy tour - thanks, @u2gigs) with hardly a pause for breath.

The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) cascades into Out of Control, and then it's Vertigo. The O2 warns you not to buy a ticket in the gods if you have a fear of heights, but there's no fear in here tonight. I Will Follow has a few lines of London Calling for the locals, and there's even some David Essex, for those old enough to remember, at the end of an emotional version of Iris: "Hold me close don't let me go...".

He's thinking of "Alison Stewart" as well, tonight, before Song for Someone... "I miss her", he admits. Maybe it's because U2 are edging ever closer to home, but there's a relaxed feel within the intensity. Larry's introduced as a drummer and "so much more", by Bono, who pauses to think: "He hits things," he concludes. Edge even gets a quick shoulder massage from the singer during Streets. And Cassie is pulled from the crowd to film the Meerkat moment - Elevation - though not before she puts in an impressive shift dancing with Bono in Mysterious Ways.

But escapism this is not, and turning to the refugee crisis, Bono asks the audience, "What do you want? A Europe with its heart open, or a Europe with its doors closed to mercy"?

"Open," he continues, "you're open - and that's what makes Britain great."

The O2 was originallly built to celebrate the millennium, and fittingly tonight, both past and future are powerfully part of U2's present mix. Songs which take us back take us forward. Until the End of the World evokes the heady days of Achtung Baby when the Berlin Wall was falling, but it feels so, so right for now. Of the new songs, Volcano makes only its fourth appearance on this leg of the tour - "a song about the rage you feel after grief", Bono tells us.

"That was the most immense arena show I've ever seen" tweeted Neil Storey, a long-time friend of U2 from the Island Records days. "First time I saw them, they played to an audience of 7. Edge broke a string, everyone gathered round as he changed it. Tonight, it was to 17,000 ... but it was just as intimate."

Jimmy Page is in the house, and he's acknowledged during One, while Beautiful Day is for Matthew Freud (it's his birthday). It may now be November, but October seems to capture the spirit perfectly, and before the crowd streams back out into the London mist, Bono returns to his autumn theme. "What a blessing it is to be in your city, on the river, as the leaves change colour. What a blessing it is."

Smaller venue and fantastic spot by the runway made this the best U2 gig I've been to. A great night!

fender35

05 November, 2015

What a night at 02

2nd November at the 02 it was the best time of my life me & wife close to stage remember it forever

Derrin

04 November, 2015

streets still make the hairs on my neck

Been following you boys since you played at Kidderminster town hall in '78. Monday night the best show ever. Don't let this be the last tour!

Paul H1

03 November, 2015

No need to apologise!

U2 live are still amazing, great set with good spread of old and new. New stuff sounded great and the screen/two stages set up made it all so inclusive. Only gripe is the political stuff, no need to be so heavy ay?

u2derek

03 November, 2015

U2 live Monday 2nd November

After 32 years I finally got to see you guys live unbelievable

nelestrynckx

03 November, 2015

For my son's 6th birthday

My son was born 6 years ago, after seeing U2 360° Tour. The morning after his birth, I woke up hearing "Magnificent" in my head. Seeing as this is the Innocence and Experience Tour and my kids are huge U2 fans as well, we got tickets to the London gig on November 2 to celebrate his birthday.
He was thrilled that they played Volcano, it's his favorite song :)
Thanks for giving him and all of the family an amazing night!

chriscas1

03 November, 2015

Great view....

After enjoying every tour since 1991, it's great to get this close. Fantastic night... one of the best!

joshthetree

03 November, 2015

Volcano woohoo

Loved hearing Volcano brilliant tune. U2 best band on the planet and were really going for it. See you tonight for the final London show.

vincent kearns

02 November, 2015

London the Experience

U2 proved they are the best show on the road with this tour and the four lads enjoying every moment

urmilsdevi

30 October, 2015

Raising the roof

Absolutely brilliant

Yoda77

27 June, 2015

Sweetest thing London nov 2

After going to U2 shows since 1983 I am taking my youngest daughter Gemma for the first time on November 2nd.
She will be 18 a couple of weeks later.i have never wished for a U2 song to be sung at a show before because I've been lucky over the years to hear all my favourites(streets,pride,bad being my top three),but when she was born think she was about 1ish whenever the sweetest thing video came onto vh1/mtv she would sit there and not move just watch it even if she was in another room,needless to say it's her favourite song,one I haven't seen live also but it would make her first show more magical than I could ever imagine,so if anyone reads this I think it would be up there with my favourite shows.its been my ringtone from her for over 10 years as well!cant wait anyway